Running Clutch is something
we would have never guessed
we could’ve achieved when we
started as staff writers our freshman year of college. As hungry
18 year olds wanting to build
our résumé with editorial experience, we hesitantly offered our
thoughts and opinions, anxious
to get our foot in the door. As
time went on, we learned to be
confident and assertive within the
staff. We experienced multiple
roles and worked under many
different styles of leadership,
which prepared us for our next
positions on Clutch. We had
seen it all: the evolution, growth,
and reconstruction of the magazine. This is what ultimately led
to us becoming Editor-in-Chief
and Creative Director— something we had built our whole
college career around. We were
on Cloud 9.
Back in January of this year,
we began thinking of the direction we wanted to take the magazine when it was our time just
a few short months later. Sam
had a vision of a futuristic, silver
photoshoot (which you’ll see later
in the magazine), and after some
brainstorming, our concept was
born: Past, Present, and Future.
It was crucial for us to heavily

5

pay tribute to the past issues
of Clutch, as well as our history
on the magazine. We wanted
to express our gratitude to our
predecessors and the creative
energy that they put forth, which
paved the way for us. One of
our directors, Riley, came to us
with an idea of a Runway style
photoshoot, which would bring
an avant-garde flair to Clutch that
it’s never had before. A flair that
you’d see on runways across
the world. Pairing that along
with rebranding ourselves and
challenging our directors to think
outside the box with location and
clothing has set the tone for this
issue. As for the future— Clutch
is something that will always be
near and dear to us. We want to
see it grow and thrive and have
full confidence that it will only
get better with time. Our goal for
the next issue and for issues to
come is that we break the mold
of what was once “Clutch Magazine” and push for a more inclusive and diverse subject matter.
These roles have taught us a
multitude of lessons and have
brought us through our fair share
of adversity. We spent many late
nights planning ways to improve
and solving problems even the
most seasoned planners couldn’t

have seen coming. Ensuring that
Clutch would see great success
was always on the forefront of
our minds, oftentimes putting
it as a higher priority than our
schoolwork (sorry mom!), and
we’d do it all over again. This has
been the most rewarding experience. There is nothing more satisfying than having someone see
the Clutch sticker on the back
of our phones and having them
ask what it is, just so we can
explain the identity we’ve found
in this publication. We are thrilled
to print this and move onto our
next issue, striving to bigger and
better things. Thank you to our
amazing assistants, Megan and
Caitlin, for the endless help and
pep talks, as well as the rest of
our staff for accepting the challenge and executing it better than
we could have imagined. Here’s
to looking to the next issue.
xx,
Meagan and Sam

By: Teaghan Skulszki
Fashion is infinite. It never dies, it’s reborn over
each decade, losing and gaining experience from past
trends and movements. Madyson Mahler, an
Instagram and fashion entrepreneur took the
evolution of fashion and made a business out of it.
Madyson’s Instagram account, Retro Threads by
Mady (@retrothreadsbymady) is taking Florida State
by storm. You might see her T-shirts on your feed and
worn at Saturday tailgates. For Madyson, what began
as fun hobby turned into a company. She started her
business after spring cleaning left her with too many
clothes in her closet, which she then decided to sell on
Instagram. Within the first day, every item sold. It was
only a matter of time until her page became a thrifting
sensation.
Madyson takes the clothes of someone’s past and
personalizes them to be a part of our future. “I thrift
mainly from Goodwill,” she says, “but there are more
options in Central Florida. I try to go at least once a
day.” When she takes the clothes home, she
transforms them into trendy crop tops and sometimes
distressed tees. The clothes vary from old football
shirts to name brands like Calvin and Adidas. It’s not
only t-shirts, but sweaters and statement pieces too,
serving the needs of every college woman’s closet on a
budget price.
What is unique about Madyson’s shop is the
platform on which she chooses to sell her clothes; one
that we all know and love, Instagram. Instagram serves
as a great base for networking in the 21st century, and
Mady says it has allowed her to truly connect with her
customers even more than Etsy or Poshmark could.
But the benefits of Instagram go even beyond those
connections; the layout of Instagram itself is more
suitable for her company, helping her sell her
products as quickly as possible. “I can’t keep inventory
long enough,” Mady says. “Instagram is fast and my
products are fast-selling.” The competition of
commenting to get a product first is competitive and
appealing. Before she is going to release new items she
posts them on her story, and from there on, the
countdown for her customers begins.
The repurposing and rebranding of clothes is a

19 past

@retrothreadsbymady
fashion evolution. Thrifting an outfit means being able
to give it a second life. “A lot of clothing is perception,
it’s how you see it,” says Mady. “It’s how you see it
styled or worn, or altered. For me, I think one of the
things I’ve always loved is looking at something and
thinking, oh I can change that, I could put my own
twist on that. Thrifting and branding allows you to do
that.”
In a time when society places an emphasis on
reducing waste and recycling, thrifting is becoming
more and more popular. It is an easy way to save
money and skip a pricey trip to the mall. You still have
an opportunity to find all the name brands that you
love and even vintage unique versions of those brands.
Thrifting leads you on a treasure hunt to find a
unique, one-of-a-kind piece that you won’t find at
Forever 21 or Pac-Sun. Thrifting allows us to express
our individuality and creativity in everyday clothing.
It takes dedication and consistency to grow a business
– but Mady is tenacious. When asking her advice to
other entrepreneurs looking to star their own business
Mady says, “I know it’s cliché, but go for it. Don’t
think it all has to be perfect right away. It took a while
to figure it all out, and people are so much more
understanding than you think so it’s almost like a
community.” Mady has turned one woman’s trash into
another’s treasure. Feed the creator that inside you, set
that idea on fire, and watch it spark into flames, just as
Mady did.

THe Power of

NOsTALGIA
NOsTALGIA
By: Jordan Glover
Walk into virtually any Urban Outfitters store
and you’ll recognize the array of timelessly
reminiscent vinyls and Polaroid cameras, which
instantly inflicts a wave of one of my favorite
sensations: nostalgia. You might then be
transported back to modern reality once your
attention draws to records of The Weeknd and
Lady Gaga, and cameras with selfie features, but
nonetheless, it’s the same principle. I’m not alone
in this fan club of strolls down memory
lane—nostalgia is a widespread fascination and
driving force that has taken the media and
entertainment world by storm.
Why are we so obsessed with this yearning for
the past? As evident through arguably all
mechanisms of everything, the explanation is
rooted in science. Nostalgia, or state of
sentimentality toward a feeling or momentous
experience from a previous point in time, instills in
us a sense of social connectedness, according to a
2012 study in the Journal of Human Research. An
inherent comfort manifests itself within the
certainty we have with what has already been
done and accomplished in the past, which then
fosters a greater hope for the future. It
demonstrates to us that we have the potential for
growth, since we have already witnessed it occur
before.
The established nomenclature was contrived in
1688 by Swiss physician Johannes Hofer. The
concept originally bore a negative connotation, as
he equated it with mal du pays, or “homesickness”
as translated in French. He deemed nostalgia a
debilitating medical condition, and a
psychopathological disorder that parallels closely
with paranoia. Over time, it has evolved as a
catalyst for improving moods, humanity,
self-esteem—and advertising.

climates, which have never been more
rampant or dynamic.
They are dubbed the “good old days” for
a reason; the return of old-timey drive-in
movie theaters and Atari gaming systems
reminds us of simpler times, back when
humanity was not as polarized, our
governments were not entirely corrupt, and
the world was not in a perpetual state of
conflict. Bringing the old in with the new
makes us feel as though we can relive these
more pleasant moments, with the hope that
we can somehow bring them back
permanently and facilitate progress.
Facebook has algorithms designated for
consistently flooding our timelines with
memories from the past, and there are
currently over 445 million photos on
Instagram containing the hashtag #TBT or
#throwbackThursday. Coke still continues
to sell its soda in old-fashioned glass
bottles, knowing very well that they could
use aluminum cans as an alternative.
Netflix and other entertainment services
constantly reboot old television series such
as Fuller House, as well as classic films, and
countless musical artists have performed
covers of old songs to keep them alive.
Nostalgia sells—Forbes Magazine even
coined a term for the strategy, known as
“nostalgia marketing.” These large
corporations take advantage of their
audience’s obsession with retro roots.
I have always been a slight skeptic to the
phrase “don’t look back–you’re not going
that way.” While indeed true to an extent,
you must reflect on the past in order to
move forward, being careful not to repeat
history, but rather improve it.

Fashion culture expert and author of The History
of Fashion Journalism, Kate Nelson Best, says that
“we look to the past as a way of either resisting
what’s going on presently, or as a way of
anchoring things in a more stable environment.”
Her insight is especially ubiquitous during our
current age, in light of our heightened political and social

The Evolution
of a Brand
By: Madison Schulz
What goes around comes around,
and in the fashion industry, it’s no
different. Once a staple in college
bookstores, Champion’s popular ﬂeece
sweatshirts and sweatpants are now
seen being sported by some of the
biggest names in pop culture, including
Kylie Jenner, Rihanna, and Chance the
Rapper. Champion’s athleisure branding
brings us back to our roots, guiding us
into the realm of working-class fashion. It’s a brand that is seen both in
high-fashion on the runway and around
campus while walking to class.
The brand made its debut in 1919
and has been a prominent staple of
every generation throughout its lifespan
of nearly 100 years. Champion more
recently renewed itself as the musthave brand of millennials, though it has
always been a favorite with younger
generations. The brand was started by
two brothers from Rochester, New
York who took their passion for sportswear and began creating products for
Michigan University. Word about the
brand traveled fast, and the Feinbloom
brothers were soon shipping out their
products to the military for use in their
P.E. classes. The royal blue and scarlet
red “C” logo was ﬁrst seen stitched
onto the bottom left sleeve of their
sweatshirts in 1950, and Champion
made history within the fashion industry with their hooded sweatshirts and
double-sided t-shirts in 1970. Although
Champion acts as a staple for a range of
sports teams, including all twenty-seven NBA teams, the athletic brand has
made its way back to the top of the
fashion food chain.
How did this brand go from one of
the most well-known brands in realm
of athletic wear, down to the racks of
Walmart, and in recent months, back
to the top of the fashion industry? The
answer is simple: what is trending now
will sell, no matter where it came from

or how long the company has been
around for. Champion brings us that
feeling of nostalgia that we do not ﬁnd
often within the clothes we wear. It’s
no shock that vintage clothes are the
new trend, and although Walmart still
sells Champion, higher-end stores such
as Urban Outﬁtters sell the better
quality, reverse-weave items that are
popular now – but for higher prices.
The brand was once known as having
close ties to the working-class society,
which is most likely why we used to see
it in discount stores such as Walmart.
However, with working-class attire being a major inﬂuence in today’s fashion
industry, it’s no wonder that we are
seeing the clothing once again returning
to the shelves.

ONE Champion was founded
in 1919, specializing in collegiate sports apparel. Champion has dressed football,
basketballm, baseball teams,
and more, even after its popularization as street apparel.
The comapny has partnered
with the National College
Athletic Association (NCAA)
and the National Football
League (NFL).
TWO Champion patented
their reverse-weave technology in 1952 after fifteen
years of development. The
reverse-weave line is still
extremely popular today,
sold at stores like Urban
outfitters.
THREE Champion reamins
one of the most popular
athlesiure brands today,
maintaining the same style
and technology as thirty
and fourty years ago. The
brand appeals to many
people due to the versatility
of their clothing, whether
referring to affordability or
to style.

1

“It’s a brand that
is seen both in
high fashion
on the runway
and aroud campus walking to
class.”
The clothing companies producing
today’s high-end and street fashion have
been drawing on past trends for many
seasons now, making it no surprise that
people have taken the step towards
wearing retro athleisure brands. Champion brings us back to simple times,
in which no-nonsense, comfortable
clothes were celebrated. Its sweatshirts, sweatpants, and small, royal blue
and red logo gives us that feeling of
nostalgia that is often found in the past
fashion trends that have made their way
back to the top.

It’s no secret that the fashion
industry is often cyclical and takes
inspiration from both the past and
the future. We see trends come and
go as each generation passes, and
we often see similarities in trends,
even straight up vintage styles,
reborn every fashion cycle. Usually,
these recurring trends are timeless
pieces that are fairly wearable and
accessible for everyday styling, but
this time, neon is making a blinding
comeback. As a trend, you might
not expect neon to keep coming
back: it’s loud, bright, and can be
pretty hard to just wear casually
without capturing the center of
attention. Nonetheless, these flashy
colors have started popping up in
runways and on celebrities the past
few months and will continue to
trickle-down the fashion ladder to
fast-fashion brands.
Neon first resurged with Prada’s
Fall/Winter 2018 collection. Prada
came out with several marketing waves from the runway to a
star-studded marketing campaign.
The runway collection, which
featured a collection of looks filled
with nylon, plastic-like materials,
neon lights and brightly colored accessories, also rolled out with more
wearable fanny packs and handbags.
Alongside this runway, the fashion
house released an extensive marketing campaign on Instagram featuring
high profile models and celebrities

such as Sarah Paulson and RuPaul
Drag Race’s Violet Chachki strutting
and posing in a neon lit landscape.
This collection reintroduced neon
into the world of fashion. Other
fashion houses such as Jeremy Scott,
Prabal Gurung and Marc Jacobs have
also contributed to this neon wave.
A little after Prada’s neon-centric
collection, celebrities started to
follow along with this trend, donning
brightly colored ensembles on the
red carpet and on Instagram. Of
course, as the face of the Prada
collection, Sarah Paulson wore a
neon yellow dress to the Ocean’s 8
premiere straight from the Prada runway. Blake Lively has been
sporting neon pant suits, Bella Hadid
is wearing neon pink and orange,
and even queen Rihanna is sporting it, and including bright pops of
color in her Fenty runway shows.
Everybody’s favorite fashion trendsetter, Kim Kardashian, has also
been recently seen in stylish neon
looks, from a pink cocktail dresses
to a bright green two-piece. Even
Kylie has donned some [questionable] highlighter hair in the past. If
we know anything, it’s that if the
Kardashians are doing it… so are
we. Neon is here to stay for a hot
moment and knowing the fashion
industry, it’s only a matter of time
before we walk into Forever 21 and
find neon and nylon on every rack.

By: James Hurley

33 present

FASHION PIONEER: IRIS VAN HERPEN
By: Katya Anleu

LIGHT

Recognized as one of fashion’s most
talented and innovative designers,
Iris van Herpen came into the
picture when fashion met technology. She mastered the art of pushing
the boundaries of fashion designs
and the combination of traditional
methods with atypical garment
construction. This Dutch designer
graduated with a degree in fashion
design in her hometown of Amsterdam; it became clear to her that she
would combine her fashion studies
with her passion for classical ballet
to create a brand that focused on
movement. The designer writes on
her website, “For me, fashion is an
expression of art that is very closely
related to me and to my body. It’s an
artistic expression of identity with
desire, moods and cultural setting.”
Herpen’s collections are a fuse of
technology and traditional couture
craftsmanship which she uses to
translate her love for nature and
architecture. Her overall intent is to
blend the past with the future and
create a distinct version of the present. Her title of innovative creator
stems from her fascination and ease
with 3D printing; she is one of the
first to employ 3D printing as her
principal medium in her garments.
Herpen’s designs are brought to
life when they interact with the
human body in perfect harmony. In
other words, when Herpen’s designs
are strutted down a catwalk, the
human movement transforms a
rather abstract design into what she
considers alive, fluid and delicate installations. Movement is an essential
principle in her designs due to how
the body and the garment behave
together when in motion.
Iris van Herpen is hosted by
Paris Fashion Week every couture
week to display her one of a kind
designs to the world. Her latest
collection, Syntopia, was inspired
by the living tree bridges in India
and how nature collaborates with

architecture. She executes a new
approach to garment construction
by mixing techniques of cutting,
weaving, folding and growing into a
process that goes beyond traditional
clothes making. She employs the use
of chronophotography: an antique
technique from the Victorian Era
that captures movement in several
frames of print, to break apart traditional draping of fabric and instead
create slightly shifted layers to
mimic an abstract and organic drape.
Iris van Herpen continuously experiments with unconventional materials,
innovative techniques and advanced
technologies. When she realized the
limitations fabric had from being manipulated to the desired structures
and forms, Herpen decided to add
various atypical materials to her list
for usage to create her extraordinary designs.

present 34

Beauty is Pain
By: Lexi Ludwig
Over the past few years, the cosmetic industry has taken a nosedive in
a completely different direction than
what it once was. An industry that
was once very limited in its selections
has opened their doors to providing
products for all different types of
customers, including vegan-based, cruelty-free consumers. Animal testing in
the cosmetic industry has always been
a widely discussed topic in the United
States, especially since the European
Union banned the sale of animal-tested products back in 2013. The topic
of discussion has come back in the
limelight, though more recently since
California has independently banned
the sale of animal-tested products.
California’s decision to ban animal-tested products, which will go
into effect in 2020, made big waves
in the fashion and cosmetic industry.
Being the ﬁrst state to independently
take a stand against animal testing,
they are hoping to create a domino
effect that will encourage other states
to follow suit. While this bill to ban
animal testing is not the end game to
stop animal cruelty, it is a step in the
right direction. Now the real question
is, what will the rest of the United
States do in response? Many consumers, activists, and beauty bloggers are
urging the United States to follow suit
like so many others before them and
put an end to testing on animals in the
cosmetic industry.
There are so many successful beauty
brands in the current market that
focus on being not only cruelty-free
but also vegan-friendly while maintaining a consumer-friendly price point. In
fact, many consumers are completely
unaware that they are even supporting
brands that are cruelty-free. Here are
a few dope cruelty-free brands that
you can support and look fashionable
while doing so.

35 present

JEFFREE STAR COSMETICS:
Jeffree Star Cosmetics is run by
makeup guru and youtube beauty blogger Jeffree Star. Jeffree Star
Cosmetics is a proud cruelty-free,
vegan-friendly brand that offers
unique makeup at a great price for
the quality and amount of product
you receive. JS Cosmetics prides
itself on the fact that they are 100%
cruelty-free, even doing research
on their second-hand manufacturers to make sure they are as well.
Jeffree Star Cosmetics is a brand that
earned recognition through social
media apps like Instagram and Youtube and is commonly used in the
LGBT world for drag performances
because of the bright colors and
pigment payoff.
BEAUTYBLENDER: A Beautyblender is a unique hydrophilic
sponge that absorbs water to help
apply makeup in a natural, blended
way, but Beautyblender isn’t typically
a brand people think of when considering cruelty-free, vegan-friendly
products but it totally is. Animal testing can happen on products that help
us apply our makeup just as much as

the makeup itself, so we love that
Beautyblender doesn’t perform any
type of testing on animals to make
their beauty sponges.
ELF: ELF cosmetics just helps
prove the point that a brand can be
cruelty-free and not break the bank.
ELF is a completely affordable brand
that ranges from one to ten dollars
and does not test on animals at all.
ELF is also known as a brand that
adapts well to the online world and
has a great social media presence
with their customers. If you are
looking for a more affordable way
to ease into cruelty-free makeup,
this is a great option!
The cosmetic industry is constantly evolving and it is hard to
keep up with trends constantly
coming and going. The goal of makeup is to enhance someone’s beauty
and make them feel like the best
version of themselves, but at what
cost? People say beauty is pain, but
you have to consider who gets hurt
in the process.

The Face of
By: Hannah Boucher

In 1972, Gucci became one of
the first fashion houses to branch
into timepieces, creating successful,
iconic models that combined
contemporary spirit and tradition,
innovation and craftsmanship,
fashion and elegance. Further
reinforcing Gucci's reputation as an
influential and progressive fashion
brand, the new and contemporary
vision injected by Creative Director
Alessandro Michele fully embraces
the fashion codes, innovation, and
contemporary attitude of the House,
thereby further enhancing its status
as one of the world's most desirable

luxury fashion brands and a
definitive 21st century statement of
contemporary coolness.
In spring 2018, Gucci debuted
their first campaign with the style
icon and showman, Harry Styles.
Styles is a long time Gucci-lover,
dating all the way back to his break
from the boy band scene, so it
comes as no surprise that the
gender-neutral advocate quickly
became Gucci’s latest muse – boldly
unveiling a line of custom Gucci
suits every tour night for his first
solo album. Name any outlandish,
bold style, and you can bet that
Harry had worn it. Plus, Gucci is no
brand for the weak of heart – or
confidence – making Harry Styles
and the Gucci fashion house a
perfect pair. Harry’s collection of
custom Gucci’s includes Joker-esque
plaid, velvet, leopard print,
bejeweled baby pink, and
limitless amounts of
jacquard and floral
prints.
The first issue of
the two-part
Gucci spread
appeared in
early March
for Gucci’s
Fall 2018
Men’s
tailoring
campaign. From
three-piece suits,
to a mohair jacket,
and even a suit
adorned with New
York Yankees
patches, the
campaign does not

disappoint. And as if the iconic
Gucci suits or the striking Harry
Styles was not enough, Alessandro
Michele added farm animals to the
shoot to give off a boy-next-door
vibe.
While the first issue of the
campaign broke the glass ceiling on
everything society could have wished
for from a Styles and Gucci
collaboration, they were
overwhelmingly unprepared for the
second issue of the campaign.
Released in September of 2018,
Gucci’s Cruise 2019 tailoring
collection brings the campaign
outside to the whimsical and blissful
scene of northern Rome. Features
of this issue include symbolism from
the innocence of the lamb and piglet
as well as the expression of the
layering of jewelry and use of the
cross on Styles. This issue contrasts
from the previous issue in the sense
that it clearly portrays the gender
fluidity that high fashion is beginning
to embrace, of which Harry Styles
has been a longtime advocate and
supporter.
As if being the poster boy for
Gucci and owning your own line of
custom Gucci suits was not enough,
in early October the concept for the
Met Gala 2019 was announced to be
"Camp: Notes on Fashion," and
Harry Styles was named as one of
the co-chairs. The gala will fittingly
be sponsored by Gucci this year, a
brand that has become known in
recent years for its whimsical and
ostentatious style under the creative
direction of Alessandro Michele.

BEAU
If you know anything about the
makeup industry, you know the
name Jeffree Star. Jeffree has always
been the person to look for when it
comes to juicy drama. In the past,
not only has he feuded with other
gurus, but even with entire makeup
brands. One of his more famous
feuds is with his long-time ex-friend
Kat Von D. Kat made allegations
against him, saying she could not
continue her friendship with Jeffree
because of his, “drug-use, racism,
and bullying,” which Jeffree has
since denied. Kat Von D went on
to explain how she was going to
remove her popular liquid lipstick
she named after Jeffree off of her
site; which has still yet to be done
since the famous argument back in
2016. Since then Kat and Jeffree do
not collaborate together and are not
on speaking terms. Even though
this feud is lukewarm this was not
the last time Jeffree was accused of
racism. In October of 2018,
Thomas Halbert, another beauty

47 present

YOUTUBERS
By: Samantha Lane

guru, made a YouTube video
accusing Jeffree of racism which
ended in a large twitter fight among
the two which lead to Thomas
apologizing and actually asking
Jeffree to squash the fight and do a
video together. Thomas then went
on to tell other gurus like Manny
Gutierrez and Laura Lee everything
Jeffree and Thomas spoke about
over text and of course as always,
Jeffree found out. Another twitter
fight broke out where Jeffree
exposed all of the messages with
Thomas claiming he will, “never
have Thomas’ trust ever again.”
The two YouTubers have not
spoken since the argument. In
more recent news, famous youtuber
Shane Dawson has released a
YouTube documentary-series all
about the “secret life” of Jeffree Star
and goes deep into the guru’s life,
company, and identity.
In other drama, Jacklyn Hill, a
famous YouTuber as well, has
recently claimed she wants to, “quit
YouTube because of constant
criticism.” Jacklyn recently just
re-released her collaboration with
Morphe, revealing her improved
“vault collection”. If you follow the
beauty industry, you would know
that Jacklyn released this collaboration with Morphe months ago but
was forced to recall all of them due
to horrible YouTube reviews
involving the consistency of the
pigments. Jaclyn was bombarded
with criticism from her subscribers
and she apologized in a 45-minute
video explaining what had
happened. Since then, the palettes
have been released for the second
time but instead of receiving

criticism on the actual makeup
itself, she received comments
about how she was ‘selling out’
because she was using too many
makeup products made by
Morphe. Whether Jaclyn will
continue her YouTube career is
still up in the air but her latest
comment stated, “It’s not fun, it’s
not fun anymore. It’s not fun for
you guys and it’s not fun for me.
I’ve always said that if YouTube
isn’t fun, I’m not going to do it.”
Last but not least, Laura Lee.
Laura Lee has been part of the
YouTube beauty community for
quite some time now and has a
huge following. With a huge
following always comes the
constant hovering and digging
from fans and trolls, these
followers are always watching and
analyzing her every move. This
caught up with Laura when tweets
from her account in 2012 were
dug up for everyone to see. These
tweets were extremely racist.
Obviously, this sent massive
uproar all over several social
media platforms and Laura Lee
has even been dropped from
various major sponsors such as
Ulta, Boxycharm, and Diff
Eyewear. Laura Lee has since
posted apology videos on nearly
all of her social media platforms,
but the response from the
community doesn’t look to
forgiving for Laura at all.
This is just the tip of the beauty
iceberg as there is surely plenty
more drama and scandal in the
beauty guru community that we
have yet to uncover.

Models vs. Inﬂuencers

Who Runs the Fashion Industry?
By: Laura Kirkpatrick
So, you may be asking…what even is an
inﬂuencer? By deﬁnition, an inﬂuencer is an
individual who “inﬂuences” a person or crowd.
This term in the world of fashion, however, has
a much more identiﬁable meaning. Fashion inﬂuencers, as we know, are the it-girls ﬂooding our
Instagram feeds on a day to day basis, posing in
their perfectly styled (and often gifted) outﬁts.
In the past year, we
have seen a colossal
amount of inﬂuencers emerge and it
is crystal clear that
because of this, the
industry is undergoing
a monumental change.
For the ﬁrst time in
our generation, these
social-media-celebrities are being selected
over models for brand
endorsements and
collaborations. Ever
since inﬂuencers
entered the spotlight
within our timelines,
they have been consistently building relationships with their audiences. But why? This is
because they brand themselves as unique, fashion-forward individuals, yet they are relatable.
They go to the same places we go, wear the
same pieces we long for and many want to be
them. In opposition to this, the dynamic of the
inﬂuencer-consumer relationship has recently shifted, allowing inﬂuencers to utilize their
platforms as a business opportunity. According
to digital intel platform SimilarWeb, four out of
every ﬁve mobile visits to Nordstrom.com are
coming from referral trafﬁc driven by RewardStyle, an inﬂuencer network of over 20,000. On
top of those numbers, RewardStyle’s inﬂuencer
program also drives 34% of Revolve’s referral
trafﬁc and 31% of luxury online retailer, Net-APorter. Basically, fashion inﬂuencers are driving
sales and increasing trafﬁc across the board
through these endorsements, advertisements

and collaborations. By campaigning in this
season’s trends and keeping up to date with
emerging designers, inﬂuencers are drawing
attention to fashion’s main attraction.
On the other end of the spectrum are the
supermodels of the industry. These individuals
are also considered highly inﬂuential, and while
the two categories coincide, they will forever
remain somewhat parallel. The approach that
supermodels use to
portray themselves
while receiving brand
endorsements is much
different than
inﬂuencers.
Embellishing on this
statement, inﬂuencers
are constantly
shooting and
distributing content
to post on their
Instagram(s) in order
to enhance their
careers… could you
imagine? These posts
range anywhere from
street style photos in
SoHo to lounging beachside in Tulum, all while
sporting the latest brands and trends. This
does not discredit the work that goes into
each curated photo, but it is what makes each
inﬂuencer unique. In opposition, most supermodels spend less time creating and capturing
the perfect shot and spend more time walking
down the runway. They work full speed on
campaigns season to season while essentially
doing the same job as an inﬂuencer, but at a
higher compensation level with a larger, more
reputable platform.
While it may be argued that inﬂuencers and
models saturate different market segments,
the industry will always depend on them to
push fashion, set trends and invite a little bit
of envy to into our lives. Whether you like
it or not, these are the individuals shattering
ceilings, breaking barriers, and leaving their
footprint in this era of fashion.

This is because they brand
themselves as unique,
fashion-forward individuals, yet they are relatable.
They go to the same places we go, wear the same
pieces we long for and
many want to be them.

present 48

neon interlude

49 present

present 50

51 present

By: Teaghan Skulszki
In the past decade, the
revolution of green and
eco-friendly products is at an
all-time high, however, when we
say we’re going green here at
Clutch we aren’t talking about

recycling. We’re talking about
high fashion, Kush and the
millennial culture. Marijuana is in.
It may be the most contentious
trend yet, but it’s a trend we are
loving. I’ve even seen it in our
coffee, but no, we’re talking about
seeing it in your beauty products.
The first question people
usual pose when trying CBD
products is “can this get me
high?” and the answer to that is
absolutely not. Cannabinoid is
one component you can find in
the cannabis plant along with
THC. The difference is that THC
will make you want to knock out
on the couch and dive into a
bowl of ice cream while watching
six episodes of the office on a
continuous loop. According to
California’s very own Chronic
Therapy Dispensary, Marijuana is

the dried flower bud of the
Cannabis plant while
Cannabinoid is any of the various
chemical constituents of cannabis
or marijuana, but it’s the benefit
of the CBD oil which is taking
the famous plant we all know
and love from the darkness of
political disapproval to the front
page of beauty magazines.
The two effects CBD is
recognized for is pain relief and
anti-inflammation. The reason
you see CBD in so many face
serums is due to its
anti-inflammatory qualities, aka it
fights aging and acne all in one.
One of our favorites is
Aphorism’s Clear Sailing
Balancing Face Oil. Made with
virgin organic hemp seed oil that
balanced with golden jojoba, red
raspberry seeds and green tea
will create a fresh glow or base
under makeup. If you’re looking
for a pain reliever you can head
to Pure CBD Vapors for their
Lavender Rub. This balm can be
used for various types of pain,
from muscle aches to headaches.
It is combined with CBD, mint,
and eucalyptus. Not only that but
it’s also vegan and GMO free.
Another noteworthy CBD
product is Lord Jones’ Body
Lotion, it features their signature
fragrance with notes of sage,
mint, and green citrus. The
moisturizing lotion “has been
crafted to deliver unparalleled
absorption in an extra strength
formula for sore muscles, joint

pain, and skin conditions,”
(lordjones.com). Other products
you’ll see combined with CBD
that you can find at your local
beauty stores are lip balm, skin
balm, bath salts, eye serum and
even mascara.
CBD is completely legal and
the reason we are seeing more
and more of it is because of the
loosening legalities on Cannabis
(medical in 29 states and
recreational in nine). According
to Allure magazine, people didn’t
pay attention to the product
before, but because of the new
legislative decisions it is
becoming apart of mainstream
media as cannabis is as well. The
stigma is fading and cannabis is
normalizing; we are in the age of
a marijuanissance, and the grass
is certainly greener on the other
side.

BEYOND GENDERS
By: Samantha Lane
Whether you are aware of it or
not, we are diving into a new era
of fashion with zero boundaries.
Society has been shifting towards
this movement for some time now
and it is ﬁnally starting to appear in
the fashion industry. Redeﬁning what
masculinity and femininity mean in
the fashion world. Apparel is now
being viewed as gender neutral and
is starting to get rid of the stereotypes that go along with
certain pieces. We are starting
to see more and more fashion ﬂuid clothing ﬂooding the
streets and this is only just
the beginning.
According to Vogue magazine, fashion is ultimately
shifting towards a new era
of gender ﬂuidity among
millennials. This statement
was supported by clothing
stores such as Zara which
released an “ungendered
clothing line”, and H&M
which introduced their unisex
denim line almost a year ago.
Companies like these are
realizing the change in fashion
and are quickly adjusting to
these trends. This trend is
not only being led by clothing companies but also by
well-known celebrities. Jaden
Smith was seen in a Louis
Vuitton campaign wearing a
pleated skirt alongside females who
were also wearing similar attire.
This pushed the boundaries of Louis
Vuitton’s brand by erasing gender
stereotypes when it comes to
fashion. Jaden Smith is not the only
one breaking borders of fashion;
Harry Styles has been followed for
wearing “feminine” patterns such
as roses and other bright ﬂoral pat-

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terned suits which has become a very
popular trend among both males and
females. One of the biggest celebrities
who support gender ﬂuid fashion
is actor Nico Tortorella. He is an
LGBTQ activist and was designed two
beautiful dresses by Christian Siriano
which were worn by Tortorella on
the red carpet of the GLAAD rising
stars event. During an interview at the
event, Tortorella stated, “Now let it
be said, it is not more comfortable to

wear these clothes, but I look f******
awesome. And it shouldn’t matter,”
which got such positive feedback from
many people who also support this
shift into gender neutral clothing.
Not only is this trend being seen in
stores and on celebrities, but all over
the runway. As models walk down
the runway in these gender ﬂuid
clothing, it raises the question as to

what is even masculine and feminine
anymore? Back in 1984, the most
controversial topic on gender ﬂuid
fashion was when designer Jean
Paul Gaultier put a male model in
a skirt, people were talking about
it for years and now we are seeing
it come back today. Jeremy Scott
recently had men on the runway
wearing feathered boas and ﬁshnets,
while women feminized the puffer
jacket with interchangeable clothing
on both genders. This kind
of fashion is getting people
talking and it has received
more positive feedback
recently. Gucci also jumped
on the trend by putting men
on the runway in long dresses
and even chunky heels claiming, “fashion has no rules.”
Designers are starting to
come to the realization that if
you feel good in it, wear it.
Alongside fashion comes
beauty and cosmetics. We
see the same trend in this
industry with James Charles,
a beauty vlogger, as the new
face of Covergirl. More and
more men are now getting
into cosmetics and even
creating new makeup lines.
David Yi, the creator of his
own male makeup line stated,
“I love makeup, and I love the
way it makes me feel, it makes
me feel more powerful and
sexy and masculine.” This statement
alone shows society that we are in
a serious shift and are really going
to blur the line between what is
for girls and what is for boys. The
future is going to redeﬁne gender
roles in the fashion industry and
we cannot wait to see what kind of
doors this opens for the future.

Female Representation at the
Helm of Major Fashion Houses
By: Anna Wood

A

ccording to a 2015 Business of Fashion
study, only 14% of 50 major brands studied were
led by women. This lack of female representation
doesn’t just affect the dynamic in the workplace, it
affects the execution of the fashion directed toward
women. While male designers and creative
directors may have fantastic out-of-the-box ideas,
and they definitely have a place in the fashion
world, they may not always have as much of an
understanding of what women actually want.
Often, items designed by men for women may be
aesthetically appealing but do not actually fit their
needs. Several brands originally founded by women
are now led by male creative directors and
designers, like Karl Lagerfeld’s leadership of
Chanel. While there have been efforts to get more
women into these top positions, promotional
practices and family relationships continue to be
prohibitive.
A problem in any field of work is the vast
difference between men and women in terms of the
frequency of promotion and how it comes about. At
the top level, 18% of men said that they had been
promoted without asking first compared to only 5%
of women. In addition, women who described
themselves as assertive and ambitious had issues
with asking for a promotion, even though 17% more
women than men expressed interest in moving up
the ladder of positions at the start, displaying that
ambition is not the problem. Women like
Marie-Louise Carven, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Jeanne
Lanvin started iconic eponymous brands, only to
later be taken over by male creative directors. In
addition to existing flaws in promotional practices
that span many industries, the idea that men are
more innovative in fashion pervades, even though
the inventive creations of female designers like
Phoebe Philo at Céline have heavily influenced the
industry and the way people dress in their everyday
lives. This idea furthers the divide in the number of
men and women at the top of major brands. To solve
this issue, it is important to encourage women to feel
more confident in asking for promotion while also

addressing the
bias toward male
designers.
While the difference
in promotion is directly
influenced by cultural
norms in gender roles in
the workplace, whether it
be rooted in direct or indirect
sexism, the typical timeline of a
woman’s life and of career
advancement frequently overlap,
even in the fashion industry.
Women are commonly finding that
they need to choose between starting
a family and furthering their careers.
Most people begin their ascent in
professional rank in their 30s-40s – a time
when many already have or are beginning to have
children. Because men are not as often expected to
stay at home or compromise career for family life, they
are more available for these positions. Some worry that
working in high-intensity positions like being at the
helm of a major fashion brand will cause the parent to
miss the milestones of the formative childhood years.
Accommodations in scheduling are more likely to be
made for women already at the top, but getting to this
point is a challenge when a lower-level promotion is
also stunted. By increasing paternity leave in all fields to
allow fathers the opportunity to participate more in
childcare and increasing flexibility in work schedules for
mothers, there would likely be more female talent at
the lead of these major brands.
Even though the fashion industry is heavily aimed
towards women, with the vast majority of fashion
school graduates being female and the fact that
women spend approximately three times as much
money on clothing for themselves than men do, it is still
largely run by men. Through educating women on how
to market themselves for promotion, changing
deep-rooted biases, and creating more options as a
parent in the workforce, change can happen.

The Kendall Kontroversy
By: Jake Patel
Kendall Jenner, the
second youngest of
the Kardashian sisters,
is widely known for
her quick rise in the
modeling world. While
she was first known
for her role in ‘Keeping
Up With the Kardashians’, she was able
to leverage her fame
and family name into a
high profile modeling
career. Many argued
that she became an
A-list model because
of her family name and
already-obtained fame,
but she proved herself
when she started
walking for shows like
Marc Jacobs and Victoria’s Secret. Even after
establishing herself in
the modeling world,
she has been the center of a few scandals
surrounding her individual career. Whether
it be an insensitive
Pepsi commercial or
offending her modeling
peers in an interview,
she’s had a few near
tragic step backs in her
effort to make a name
for herself.
When she first decided she wanted
to enter the world of high fashion, Jenner knew that she would face obstacles in the industry and that she would
have to prove herself. Many believed
that she was able to just walk onto
the catwalk because of her high-profile
family, but Jenner is quoted saying that
it was just the opposite; she has said
that her name has had to make her
work even harder to prove herself. Believe it or not, Jenner started her modeling career posing for lower-profile

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quick rise to the top is not
without setbacks though. In
2017 Jenner was the center
of a highly controversial
Pepsi commercial. The commercial spotlighted Jenner
seemingly bringing peace
to a protest with the use
of a Pepsi. The commercial
was accused of making light
of the Black Lives Matter
movement and was pulled
by the company soon after
its first air. More recently,
Jenner received backlash
after making a comment
about “those girls” in her industry. In an interview with
Love Magazine in August of
2018, Jenner said she has
always been selective with
the shows she does and
was “never one of those
girls who would do like 30
shows a season or whatever the f*** those girls do.”
Many models clapped back
at Jenner, saying that not
everyone has the ability to
be picky with the jobs they
choose, and correcting her
saying the most models
walk near 80 shows a season. Models such as Amber
Witcomb, Teddy Quinlivan
and Ashley Graham clapped
brands like Forever 21, Sheri Hill and
back at the model saying
even Kmart. It wasn’t until New York
they don’t all it as easy as her and have
Fashion Week’s F/W 14 Marc Jacobs
to work twice as hard for half the
show that she made her debut in high reward.
fashion. She displayed an unrecognizIt’s hard to say whether Kendall
able, head-turning look with bleached
Jenner’s shot to the top is deserved
eyebrows and a completely sheer top. or not, but it’s easy to say that it didn’t
Since then, she has represented some
come without controversy. In the beof the biggest names in fashion, walking ginning, Jenner knew she would have to
for brands like Versace, Off-White, and prove herself and every time she did,
Burberry.
she seemingly set herself back. While
Kendall Jenner quickly rose to
she may hold the spot as the world’s
the top as the world’s highest paid
highest paid model, the battle to assert
model, de-crowning Gisele to number herself as a force in high fashion is
two after her fifteen-year reign. Her
ongoing.

“STYLE GOING THE EXTRA MILE”
By; Laura Kirkpatrick
is a someone that encourages powWhen it comes to professioner, strength and success to women
al athletic wear, most garments
across the world. That someone is
are designed for the purpose of
Serena Williams.
flexibility, functionality, comfort,
In collaboration with Nike, Abloh
performance and ease. Once
introduced the “QUEEN” collecupon a time, these garments were tion. To debut this collection, he
intended to
designed an
last an entire “Sport, like fashion, shares a asymmetric
athletic
common language that seeks black bodysuit
season and
completed with
to unite cultures, break down a black tutu for
on some
occasions, an
barriers and celebrate the Serena to wear
athlete’s enthe U.S
power of the human spirit,” during
tire athletic
Open this past
said Abloh. “This season, I September.
career. In
the last year, was inspired by the voice of He identified
however,
the personal
the athlete and the power of elements that
fashion has
penetrated
sport to impact positive and define Serethe sports
na William’s
transformative change
industry.
athleticism and
globally.”
We have
created someseen teams
thing feminine
emerge and begin to utilize fields
yet contemporary. In
and courts as their runways.
addition to her queen-ofUniforms are being revolutionized, the-court looks for the
with silhouettes and styles that
U.S Open, Abloh also
have never been debuted in athlet- worked closely with
ics. We largely owe this innovative Nike to redesign two of
breakthrough to the multi-dynamic their signature sneakers
fashion pioneer,Virgil Abloh.
as well as sleek bomber
Abloh is undoubtedly one of
jackets for the collabothe most influential creatives of
ration.
our generation. In just five short
While Abloh has been
years, he has shifted from being the the stepping stone for
mastermind behind haute couture bringing designer-wear
streetwear brand, Off-White,
into the sports industo taking over as Louis Vuitton’s
try, He is no novice.
artistic director of menswear. His
Earlier this year, he
creative expression is not limited
worked alongside Kim
to these two brands, however. As
Jones (who ironically
stated within an exclusive Forbes
was his predecessor at
interview, Abloh identifies himself
Louis Vuitton) to design
as a “serial collaborator” and is
the Nike x Off White
able to rapidly draw inspiration
“Football, Mon Amour”
from his creative muses. One of
collection. This collecVirgil’s most recent creative muses tion fused two different

visions of the two different designers and the outcome was rebellious. With color block patterns
modeled from the 80’s punk generation, these designers truly refined
the meaning and emotion that goes
into putting on a jersey. In addition
to this, Abloh was the first designer to model his SS19 runway show
after a track and include actual
Olympic athletes to showcase this
sport-couture collection.
Needless to say, Virgil Abloh’s
collaborative efforts with athletes
and designers across the world
has had an immeasurable impact
on both the worlds of fashion and
sports. With Off-White officially
being labeled as the hottest brand
in the world, I think it would be
safe to say that this is only the
beginning.

future 74

Wear, Don’t Waste:
Recycled Fashion Making a Difference
By: Madi Schultz
Walking through your local
shopping mall, it is inevitable that
your eyes will go straight to the sign
posted in the doorway advertising
sale items. Whether it is a buy-oneget-one sale or 75% off of the whole
store, buying an abundance of clothes
for an inexpensive price is easier than
ever. Trends are always changing, so
why wouldn’t we follow them if the
clothes are easily
accessible and
affordable? As
seasons change,
so do the trends,
and then comes
the time in which
we filter through
our overflowing
closet to pick
through the items
that we haven’t
worn in ages.
Throwing the
clothes in a bag
and sending them
off to Goodwill
or Plato’s Closet,
we get them out
of our sight and
focus our eyes on
getting clothes
that are on-trend.
But what happens
to the clothes
that Plato’s
Closet decides
is no longer in season or Goodwill
does not end up selling? Just like our
everyday trash, those unsold clothes
go straight into landfills next to our
empty potato chip bags and plastic
water bottles.
For years, it has become apparent
how our excessive use of fossil fuels
and non-reusable resources affect
the environment. We see how the
choices that we make can negatively
impact the world around us, so many

75 future

decide to buy organic, locally sourced,
or vegan foods. But what about when
we are shopping for our everyday
wardrobe items? The clothes you
are currently wearing are most likely
produced by a fast-fashion company,
an industry that, as the second-largest
polluter of clean water around the
globe, is a massive contributor to the
negative effects on our environment.
Fashion designer Bethany Williams

challenges the ways in which clothes
are made within the fashion industry,
constructing a clothing brand that
focuses on making a positive social and
environmental impact. Her current
menswear collection titled “Breadline”
is made solely from textiles composed
of recycled waste from companies
such as Tesco and Vauxhall Food Bank.
The clothing line has more perks than
just its use of recycled materials; she
gives 30% of the proceeds back to

the Vauxhall Food Bank in order to
continue giving back to the community.
Models are seen wearing garments
made by local craftsmen and women,
composed of materials like recycled
cardboard, waste items, and even
books. Through her company and
passion for leaving a positive footprint
on the globe, Bethany Williams hopes
to share the message about the importance of buying and wearing clothes
that are sustainable, rather than
fast-fashion brands
that pollute the
environment.
The fashion industry has a major
impact on our
planet, and consciously choosing
to buy clothes
that are not mass
produced or made
from sustainable
materials makes a
difference. Even
going to your local
thrift store can be
an effective way to
help the environment. By including
some second-hand
clothing into your
wardrobe, you
work to extend the
life of that clothing
item. Plus, thrift
shopping never goes out of style.
Next time you go through your
closet to get rid of the pieces that haven’t been worn in a while, take steps
towards discarding them in a thoughtful way. Rather than throwing them
out completely, donate the t-shirts you
don’t wear anymore or see if a friend
would want it. Any change made, no
matter how big or small, can have a
positive impact on our planet.

future 76

FUTURA FREE

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future 78

From Crosswalks to Side Streets: Walking the New Runway
By: Laura Kirkpatrick
As fashion continues to evolve, photographers and bystanders are
looking less to the ¬ for inspiration and instead are turning to the
streets. You guessed it, we’re talking about street style. This is for
many reasons, take on this dynamic evolution is because it truly allows
the everyday trend setter to express their fixation for fashion. In
opposition to what we would typically see on the runway, streetwear
emulates a look that is not only attainable, but also relatable. A
majority of the pieces that we see featured on the runway are both
customized and inaccessible, thus excluding a very large audience
beyond the elite. However, the looks that we see off-duty models,
influencers and bloggers sporting from show to show are the looks that
are gaining momentum. By capturing the element of individuality that
encompasses street style fashion, we are able to have a true
representation of current trends circulating across the globe. After a
fashion photographer named Bill Cunningham from the New York
Times began shooting the streets, the obsession with the effortless,
candid looks from street style photos came into fruition.
The main thing I love about street photography is that you find the
answers you don’t see at the fashion shows. You find information for readers
so they can visualize themselves. This was something I realized early on: If you
just cover the designers in the shows, that’s only one facet. You also need the
street and the evening hours. If you cover the three things, you have the full,
dynamic picture of what people are wearing. – Bill Cunningham
Year round, individuals are continuously expressing themselves
through fashion and photography in exchange for exposure. It is no
secret that the rise of social media has had an astronomical influence
on the industry. Instagram has become an outlet for designers,
influencers and the everyday fashionista to receive recognition for the
ways that they cultivate their styles. London based fashion influencer
and stylist Bettina Looney (@bettinalooney) has adapted her own
unique taste on the ever-changing street style trend.
“My style is a bit funky and I am not afraid to wear something bold and
fun.” –Bettina Looney
Those with a powerful online presence are spending time and
effort on their style, stepping into the streets with unprecedented
looks. We are seeing more prints, colors and textures being mixed in
order for fashion to be utilized as an outlet for creative expression.
Because of this, streetwear is undoubtedly the most authentic form of fashion...and it is here to stay.
As fashion month winds down to a close, we have seen a proliferation of new and old trends emerge from NYC,
London and Milan street style’s alike. It also cannot be ignored that as the seasons go by, we see more and more
individuals pushing the creative boundaries. Everyone is entitled to their own inventive interpretation of streetwear and
style. However, as we’ve seen over the past several decades, it’s not about what you are wearing, it is about how you are
wearing it.